Letter 43

     

                                                                                           Bountiful, Utah

                                                                                          June 28, 1918

Dear Sweetheart,

I am home again. Yes, and O.K., too. I came home on the six-car yesterday. Mary took me to the station after Primary. The folks phoned up to Stephensons and asked if they would get Mary to the phone. Well, we had to go up to town, so she said would phone from Geo. I couldn’t make old grey go fast enough me, for I couldn’t imagine what they wanted, for you kept ringing through me head. Well, they had gotten excited and were wondering why I hadn’t come, for they thought either Mary or I were sick. They were worried for nothing, for nothing could keep me away. Well, they would have stayed if they couldn’t get here. I got in bad as I lost the baby’s “dummy” while Mary was in Geo.

Well, I walked just as fast as I could when I got off the car, but it seemed as if people wanted to talk to me. I was like a prancing horse, wanting to go on. I knew I had something at home and I couldn’t get there soon enough.

I should have written yesterday, but time for Primary came before I knew it, and then when I got home I had my supper and went up to Barlows, and then to choir practice.

Well, Henry, I have been working this morning. Mama is just calling me to breakfast and it is just 8:15. We have all been out in the fields since 6:30. Mama has been picking beans and I have been picking raspberries. The berries will be all on and then off before you know it. Monday we picked one case and in an hour and a half we have picked two cases this morning. We have nine rows, so I guess we will get quite a few.

Well, breakfast is over and I am back to you. I started to tell you about going up to Barlows. Grandpa came down here and said he had a box of cherries for me to send to you. I told the folks if he didn’t get home to be sure to send some cherries if they didn’t mind. I guess the box you got first will be no good since we didn’t know how to pack them. You can give them to someone else if you don’t want to keep them, and just keep the good ones. The cherries sent last are from Barlows, and all I sent was the postage on them! Let me know how they taste. They gave us part of a case, so we had cherries, too. We walked all through their orchard. My, but their trees are just loaded and I believe they said they had two hundred. I think Grandpa and Grandma Barlow would like to hear from you, especially as to how the cherries tasted.

Oh, yes, I had your letters of Saturday and Sunday, and a card from Viola when I got home last night. I am very, very glad you went to Denver and had a fine time. Just have all the good time you can, for you deserve it. Did anyone else go to Sis. Herrick’s? I mean another soldiers besides George?

When you told about the way you felt when girls came near you reminds me of the way it will soon be here. Our town is surely getting drained out. I guess they will soon have to put a boy in the curio garden, just something to look at, since all the men have gone to war!

The folks have gone back into the field, but I’m not going till I finish my letter, even if I have to pick all night to catch up. Well, I won’t do that, so don’t worry, dear.

I see I still will have to chastise you severely. Now sit right down and look me in the eye. There now, Henry (turn around now). I see you still persist in using (sit still now) that foolish (where’s your eyes? Now then, don’t move them) flattery about me being good-looking. Haven’t I told you I’m not? Well of course it pleases one to think that someone cares for them, but Oh, if only I was as nice and good as you say. (Now sit still and give me a kiss before you leave.)

Well sweetheart, you asked about me caring to have a picture of you. To tell you the truth, I’d rather have the living model placed in front of me, and not too far away, either, but a picture would certainly be acceptable. Thanks for the pictures you sent last. I took them up to show to Bro. Barlow, and I put them down my _____! Well, they laughed at choir practice for they said they were near my heart. Say, did you know that you told a fib? For you are, too, in that picture, on top of your bunk. Say, where did you get your white shirt? Your tie looks natural. The other picture is fine.

As I came home last night, I saw a soldier and a girl go down the street toward the Centerville station arm in arm. I guess it was Clyde and Amelia. I just closed my eyes and wondered what it would be like for me and a soldier I know to be doing that. Well, our time will come.

I noticed something new in your letter. You said you had received a letter from Miss Bert Herbst. Now Henry, that made me feel as though you said that because I had been joking you. I think she is very sweet and you don’t have to think of her as so distant in friendship. So I don’t care about another girl. If your love for me is not sufficient to stand against others, and if my love for you can’t stand up either, then it is not true love. I believe you think I am jealous, don’t you? Well, I guess I am, for I do crave your love so much. It is one of the greatest things in my life to me. You may say, “what are the other things?”

I would say my religion. I don’t know what I would do without that, either. As I was going to say, I do crave your love, but I don’t want you so tightly bound that you can’t speak to a girl, for you can, and all you want to, for I know a man’s nature craves the association with women. I was just thinking I have written a lot, but there’s nothing in it.

Mary and I went down in the field with Irvin yesterday morning. The poor fellow surely has a lot to do. He is hoeing his beets. They are looking fine. The cutworms took the patch of potatoes down in the field. The Cal Club Wheat which Irving has down in the field is fine, too. There is a very heavy crop there, and it is not so full of clover as the other. The place is going to be fine when more help in obtained. The well surely is fine. I don’t think Irvin would have it taken away for 5 or 10 times its cost.

Oh yes, the baby sends Uncle Henry her love. The Mutual is giving Bro. & Sis. Will Wadoupps their farewell party at Kay Sessions tonight. Oh yes, I heard some news. Last Sunday Lional Layton’s baby was born. Mrs. Beaumon came to see her sister, and while she was there, the stork brought her a baby girl.

Well, I think I have written enough, for I must get to work. So you have some furlough papers, do you? That’s the first time you have said anything about them. May our Heavenly Father be so merciful as to grant it to come to pass. I am praying so earnestly for it, but God rules all, so trust Him. May he protect you and bring you back to me is my prayer for you.

X X X Violet.